The Musée Réattu in Arles is undoubtedly one of the iconic cradles of the Rencontres Internationales de la Photographie in Arles. And is proud to continue this tradition, the museum’s management offers major exhibitions each year. These events focus on showcasing the works of one or more photographers who have left their mark on their era, in a wide variety of styles and across a broad range of image categories. It is, incidentally, quite surprising that this venue, which often offers us the very best photographic works from the Rencontres, is ostracized under the banner of “Arles Associé.”
In this atypical setting, the desire is clearly displayed to introduce visitors to the quality photographic works of this or that author who has been able to enhance the field of expression in images. However, the clear-sighted will and the mythical places are not always enough to make a successful alchemy with a creative work, whose contours must adapt.
This year, the choice of photographs by Béatrice Helg was hardly questionable given the original and undeniable productions of this talented designer. The challenge lay in creating the essential coherent harmony within the hushed, baroque environment of this grand priory that houses the museum.
With Béatrice, the problem doesn’t seem to have arisen. The photographer arrived at Réattu with her choices, her scenographies adapted to each room, and, ultimately, she took charge of putting together her catalog. Without reservation, this exhibition in its presentation, its accessibility and the dialogue between the images is a complete success. The perfectionism, the intelligence of the forms and volumes, the impacts of the light, serve wonderfully to immerse or contemplate the photographs. If I am not a fanatic of authors who want to meddle in everything, there are sometimes designers whose search for perfection in the spiritual sense gives birth to a near-perfect whole.
Thank you, Madam, for this achievement that many scenographers, “curators” (exhibition curators), graphic designers from the Rencontres and other student groups should come and study, even if they have absolutely no interest in photography. After Jean Claude Gautrand at Réattu and Hans Silvester at the Arlaten in 2024, you continue to offer us exhibitions that look like exhibitions. It’s a shame that these emblematic cultural venues are only associated, while they offer some of the best services.
But the main thing is the more than 70 images that are hung. All these photographs, taken from the various collections, permanently frozen, taken by Béatrice Helg are in large heterogeneous formats of approximately one square meter. It is essential to specify that both for personal reasons and technical achievements, all prints are made in very limited numbers (1 to 3), forever locked. The quality of the images borders on absolute perfection (which could not exist, it seems, in our world). The work of the author begins with the choice of the subject and ends with the framing of her works. Each of us knows that absolute mastery of each stage of creating a photographic image is essential to hope for a result as close as possible to one’s imagination. This being said, Béatrice’s creations are based on a permanent duality between matter and light. Then, the compositions play between masses and shadows, the gaze is drawn into the whole from one of the many details while the eye has already escaped into another place. Thought is lost in a space, completely desired by the photographer, without knowing if we are still in the image or in a mirage outside. The work of a goldsmith who relies on the sensory capacities of each person to impose, thanks to her perfect mastery of numerous photographic tools, another path of our dialogues with her images.
The exhibition is beautiful, the photographs are magical. This presentation promises to be one of the most beautiful and original of the 2025 Rencontres. If you happen to be in Arles, photographer or not, before the end of September, you must stop by Réattu to contemplate some of Béatrice Helg’s works for a few minutes.
For the others, this versatile photographer has taken charge of creating a beautiful catalog that is worthy of the event and which you can order directly from the museum bookstore.
Thierry Maindrault
EXHIBITION
Réattu Museum
10 rue du grand prieuré
13200 ARLES [intra muros]
From July 5 to October 5, 2025
Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. [closed Mondays]
CATALOG
Réattu Museum Bookstore
10 rue du grand prieuré
13200 ARLES
€30.00 + shipping.
